Yup, that’s right: after a few years of recapping issues of Romantic Times magazine, we have pretty much discovered all there is to know about periodical publication, so we’re starting our own print magazine!
Introducing Smart Bitch Magazine!
Didn’t Amanda do a great job on the cover??!
I particularly like the part where we are reviewing all “5 million books coming out this month.”
Also – Y2K, is it a historical romance? Genius!
If you’re curious where the image is from, that is the original romance artwork that I have hanging in my office. It was used for The Lion and the Lark by Doreen Owens Malek. I also have a paperback copy in a shadowbox that I’m going to hang next to it.
I wish everyone could work under the benevolent presence of John DeSalvo in a hot pink toga, because it’s truly an experience.
I love the idea of a print magazine reviewing every romance coming out in a given month. HOW BIG WOULD IT BE. Like nine Manhattan phone books tied together? Imagine the sound it’ll make when it lands on your porch!
I also love the idea of paper dolls. I realize these fashions aren’t a perfect match for the time periods Bertrice Small wrote in, but they’re so adorable. I LOVE the striped ensemble on the lower left.
Would I fall down all the time if I had that much train and bustle? Absolutely.
Would I look freaking fabulous doing it? Yes. Yes, I would.
Happy April 1st, everyone. I hope this brought a smile to your face!
Want to look back at some of our past April Fool’s editions? Here are a few of my favorites:
In 2023: Amanda and I were co-executive producers of The Bookshelf, where readers move into a luxurious mansion and collaborate (not compete) to find their OTPR – their one true perfect read.
In 2022: we had some turgid hotwallets with our own cryptocurrency, BitchCoin!
In 2021, we created the Smart Bitches Smart Device! It’ll track your reading and embeefen your wifi while picking fights with other appliances that aren’t getting the job done.
We’ve fallen in love with rabbits, and made our own social media network in 2014 complete with hoax-detection technology (wow, wish that had been real).
Ah, the Smart Bitches Smart Watch!And still, one of my all-time most-favorite April Fool’s Day inventions?
Our 2015 Time-stopping wearable device that doubles as a reader, pedometer, page counter, audio device, sale alarm, and timekeeper.
I can’t tell you how much I wish the stop time wearable was real.
If you’ve got ideas for next year, by all means let me know. We have SO MUCH FUN coming up with the April Fool’s pages each year.
We’ll be back with more silliness, but until then, Happy April, folks.
English (US) · 